UEFA Euro 2016 By The Numbers

So if anyone had the idea of somehow getting a last minute ticket to the Euro2016 final in Paris today, think again. The average ticket price for the match between France and Portugal, at the Stade de France, is almost $600. And a third of the seats in the stadium were sold for no less than $989.

It is no surprise that people would be willing to pay that much, however, when you consider that this international tournament has arguably been one of the most exciting in recent memory. In over 50 matches so far, there has already been a total of 107 goals scored, with 2.14 per match or one every 43 minutes.

Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo holds the trophy after winning the Euro 2016 final soccer match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Sunday, July 10, 2016. Portugal won 1-0. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Indeed, revenue at Euro2016 has increased by 34% to $2.13 billion compared to Euro 2012, European soccer’s governing body, UEFA announced last Friday. This increase is no surprise within the context of the tournament’s newly expanded format, from 16 to 24 participating teams. The additional 20 matches meant that more broadcasters have been buying television rights to UEFA’s most profitable competition.

Of the total forecasted revenue, a whopping $1.1 billion was earned in broadcast rights alone. Other revenue sources included $530 million sponsorship and licensing deals, as well as $441 million from sales of tickets and hospitality. With $2.13 billion total, Euro 2016 generated an average of almost $42 million in revenue per game.

Total costs incurred for Euro 2016 included $718 million on organizing the event, $333 million in team prize money, and $168 million to clubs for releasing players to play in the tournament. Of the prize money, each team receives at least a participation fee of $8.9 million, and the winning team will take home almost $30 million.

France's Kingsley Coman, Patrice Evra, Paul Pogba, Eliaquim Mangala and goalkeeper Steve Mandanda, from left, leave the stadium after losing the Euro 2016 final soccer match between Portugal and France at the Stade de France in Saint-Denis, north of Paris, Sunday, July 10, 2016. (AP Photo/Michael Sohn)

UEFA expects to generate a record profit of $917 million from Euro 2016, the most lucrative edition of its most successful tournament. It generated average profits of almost $18 million per match. Four years ago in Euro 2012, UEFA’s profit was only $724 million according to its financial accounts for that year.

Current UEFA leaders reportedly praised Michel Platini, the European soccer body’s outgoing president who will serve a FIFA ban from official duty until 2019, for his instrumental part in creating the expanded 24-team format. Platini’s legacy will also include a big payday for UEFA, which will take $254 million of the generated profit money to cover its own running costs. That means on average, UEFA pocketed approximately $5 million per game. The other $663 million will be distributed between UEFA’s 55 member associations for the 2016-2020 period.

The expanded tournament format has been a subject of much debate among the soccer world, however. A large amount of analysts preferred the 16-team format as ideal for a tournament bracket. Despite such criticism that the quality of play has declined in this year’s Euro tournament, UEFA can highlight profitable financial results as its main argument for keeping the 24-team format into the future. The success of small nations like Wales and Iceland progressing deep into the knockout stages serves as another argument in support of the bigger event.